Warriors: The Darkest Shadow [Book 1]

Chapter 4

     "Scorchfang!" Bluesky sky hissed from behind her, Ashpaw and Cloudpaw both come bounding down the tree, they both shot towards Shadepaw with worry, "Are you ok?" Cloudpaw yelped as he threw his paws around her neck, while Ashpaw had already seen the strange ShadowClan tom, "Well if it isn't my look alike!
Ashkit right?" He said with a joking tone, suddenly a white pelt blocked her vision of the ShadowClan tom, "What are you doing here!" Her mother hissed again as she shoved Ashpaw behind her, "Bluesky? Who is that?" Cloudpaw asked from behind the identical white pelt.

     Bluesky sighed and stepped out of the way, revealing the tom again, he was a broad smokey tom with amber eyes, Shadepaw shivered as she caught glimpse of the muscles rippling under his pelt, "This is, Scorchfang... Your father." Bluesky said with dismay in her voice. "Nice to finally meet you, Ashkit, Cloudkit and Snowkit right?" He asked with amusement in his eyes, Shadepaw didn't reply to her fathers taunt, for she was to surprised at who her father was, and why he wasn't dead, suddenly she realized it, "You lied, you told us he died, why!" Shadepaw hissed at Bluesky, "I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid-" Bluesky started, but Shadepaw lifted her tail to silence her mother.

     "Well it was nice to meet you finally Scorchfang, but we have mentors to be getting back to." Shadepaw said as she started padding back towards Sparrowsong and Iceheart, she heard the unmistakable paw steps of Cloudpaw behind her, but not Ashpaw's, Shadepaw turned around to find Ashpaw hadn't moved from their fathers side, "I don't think-" He started but Bluesky cut him off, "Come on Ashpaw Dustwing is waiting for you. Their mother meowed with stern urgency, " I want to go with Scorchfang back to ShadowClan." Shadepaw could hardly believe the words the words that were coming out of her brothers mouth, "Why?" Cloudpaw asked, taking the words right out of Shadepaw's head, "We don't belong in ThunderClan! At least I don't! There are no other cats like me! Nobody gets me." Ashpaw exclaimed, it hurt what her brother was saying, it made water fill her eyes as Ashpaw turned back towards Scorchfang, "What about Dustwing! Cloudpaw and Shadepaw! What about me! What about ThunderClan!" Bluesky cried as Ashpaw stepped a paw over the border.

     "I'm sorry Bluesky... You of all cats know I don't belong here." He meowed as they started padding towards the ShadowClan camp, Shadepaw looked at her mothers blue eyes, they were flooded with water, "Bluesky? Are you ok?" Shadepaw asked. Her mother thrust around and glared at her, "I'm fine! Go back to your mentors! Both of you!" She hissed at them, "Lets go Shadepaw." Cloudpaw said as her rested his fluffy white tail on her shoulders.

Shadepaw stared at the ground, her thoughts were spinning and her blood was pounding in her ears, Sparrowsong was padding in front of her with Iceheart beside her, Cloudpaw was standing beside Shadepaw with an unreadable expression, Shadepaw could tell that he was hurt, What did he mean 'Nobody gets him?' I get him! Cloudpaw gets him! We grew up together and we all got along, and suddenly Scorchfang comes and ruins everything! Shadepaw thought with bitterness, "Shadepaw go get some fresh kill and get some rest." Sparrowsong commanded, Shadepaw just shrugged and and padded towards the fresh-kill pile, she grabbed a mouse and began towards the apprentice den.

"Hey Shadepaw where is Ashpaw and Bluesky?" Dustwing meowed as Shadepaw took a bite out of her mouse, "Go ask Bluesky. " Shadepaw said with blankness, Cloudpaw padded up beside her.

     "I can't believe he's really gone, it feels so empty without him." Cloudpaw said, suddenly she heard gasps and mutters of disbelief, Shadepaw saw that Bluesky was under the Highrock meowing about something, Smallstar stood beside her with shock in his eyes.

     The small white tom leaped onto the Highrock and started to talk," All cats of the Clan! Ashpaw has left us for ShadowClan! He went with his father, and the deputy of ShadowClan, Scorchfang! " Hisses of horror and anger rang through the camp, Shadepaw's fur stood on end, Deputy! Scorchfang is deputy! She thought with rage, We really don't fit in here. Shadepaw thought as she looked around at the gathered cats, not one cat had her pelt color, or her shaded blue eyes.

     "Now since that is out of the way, time for the cats to go for the gathering." Smallstar said as he looked around the crowd, It's already been a moon? She thought with shock, "Glorystem, Hawkfeather, Wormtail, Dustwing, Greythroat, Shadepaw, and Cloudpaw." He finished then leaped off the rock, My first gathering! Shadepaw thought as she began padding towards her leader.